[APWSLMembers 109] WORLDS FIRST STARBUCKS STRIKE, AUCKLAND

[apwsl_nz at slingshot.co.nz]

WORLDS FIRST STARBUCKS STRIKE, AUCKLAND

CONFIDENTIAL PRESS RELEASE: Unite Union / SuperSizeMyPay.Com
Tuesday, 22 November

A world first is happening in the heart of Auckland city tomorrow, as
multi-national giant Starbucks faces a workers strike.

The legal wild-cat strike is a public awareness raising event and the
first action in the Unite workers union "SuperSizeMyPay.Com" campaign.

Campaign Co-ordinator Simon Oosterman says the strike is just one way
Unite is raising public awareness of the working conditions of those
employed in the fast-food sector and other low paid and minimum wage
jobs.

"The minimum wage is now the most important determining factor for low
paid workers. Raising the minimum wage to $12 NOW, removing youth rates,
giving secure hours and other minimum entitlements would be the first
step
towards reclaiming what entitlements workers have lost and alleviating
poverty and inequality," said Mr Oosterman.

The community-wide campaign is being launched around the fast-food
industry to win a contract based on these demands as a first step to
winning them for all low-paid New Zealanders.

"We are seeking customer and community support at events like the Grey
Lynn Festival and the Santa Parade, before we will take widespread
industrial action," he said.

The strike will only be held for about an hour, and customers and
pedestrians will be offered free fair trade coffee at the event.

Internationally Starbucks has low union representation, with only 300
union members out of 80,000 workers globally.

One third of these union members are in New Zealand.

"Starbucks workers start on $10 an hour, only fifty cents above the
minimum wage. Workers hours are not guaranteed and can, and have been,
cut
from 40 to 20 hours. In Australia, Starbucks workers earn almost $5 more
per hour than their New Zealand workmates. We are only asking for $2
more
per hour," he concluded.

Unite has been in negotiations for several months with Restaurant
Brands,
which owns Starbucks, KFC and Pizza Hut in New Zealand.

Unite has 2000 members in the fast-food industry.

ENDS

Due to the nature of wildcat strikes, please contact Simon Oosterman for
further information on the location and time of the strike on
0274-555-789.

http://www.unite.org.nz

http://www.supersizemypay.com


The website for Supersizemypay.com will be launched tomorrow for the
action.


Simon Oosterman
Quick Service Campaign Coordinator
Ph - 09 845 2132, Fax - 09 845 5624
DD - 09 845 4762, Mob - 0274 555 789
6a Western Springs Rd, Morningside, Auckland



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